Chapter 10: Sensations

Casey spent the next two hours observing and learning all the technical aspects of the Tracker. He wanted to know how to use it himself if the need arose. It was past one in the morning when Wang, Althea and an exhausted Simon finally trudged to their bunkers. Rhea lingered after showing Casey his sleeping quarters, across from hers.

"So Jones, do these guys live here or what?"

"No, believe it or not, they have lives. But they have to remain here for as long as this case lasts. They work hard, they know what they're doing."

"I see that, I give them a lot of credit. It's not easy trying to play God." Casey muttered.

"What do you mean?" Rhea took Althea's chair and scooted beside him.

"You heard what Costa said, it's like having the eyes of God…and he's kind of right. Can you imagine all the dirty little secrets, lies, and truths that can be uncovered with this thing? Especially if it's in the wrong hands?"

"That remains to be seen." She exhaled.

Casey noticed this reaction from her every time he mentioned Costa. Tomorrow he intended to wring more truth out of her, now that they had each other's confidence.

Rhea watched the map, Casey lingered the fifth satellite over Canada. She decided to leave him alone for now; this was his time to grieve.

"Major…"

"What happened to, 'John'?"

"I get the feeling you didn't appreciate me calling you that, besides, I don't want to stir up more snide remarks."

"Don't worry about it, it's just a name. If you call me John, then I'll have to call you Rhea."

She stood up taller with a smile. "I wouldn't mind that at all, Maj… John. Hey, don't stay up too late, there's funeral services tomorrow for…well, everyone. Are you going?"

Casey hadn't even thought of that, he hated funerals. If anything he'd show up inconspicuous and stand in the background. Beckman would probably have her boys surveying the place for him.

"I'll go, but I won't stay long. Maybe we'll get some new evidence."

"I can go with you, if you'd like. I want to."

Casey stared at her glassy-eyed. "Thanks, Rhea."

"Sure. Goodnight, John."

As soon as she left, Casey turned his attention to the screen and zoomed all the way into Julia's house. He maneuvered the Tracker and found Julia in the kitchen, preparing lunch and sorting through bills. He studied every inch of her attractive form. Her light brown and silvered hair cascaded sloppily over one eye. She was dressed in her favorite loose flannels and bedroom slippers.

"Snowed in again, sweetheart?" Casey asked. "Looks like it."

Her outfit made no difference to him; she was beautiful and alive. He panned around the house, she was a stickler for neatness, but then again, so was he.

As he neared the stairs, he heard childlike singing from Charlotte's bedroom. He zipped his view up. Her door was ajar. She was setting up her teddy bears and dolls for their own 'lunch' and sang a song about rainbows. The dastardly lump clogged his throat again. He watched as she arranged her little plastic utensils and cups. She scurried over to her play kitchen and pretended to cook.

"Now you all have to wait and be patient. I'm making a special lunch, I'm making a pizza and…and…chicken!" She held up a toy drumstick and tossed it into a little frying pan. "I love fried chicken…I know you love fried chicken, Cocoa! Don't get mad, Kelly, you'll get some too, I promise."

Charlotte peeked at her toys again and ran over to her black, stuffed dog.

"Charlie! You can't take the napkin off your neck. It's good manners, daddy does it and mommy says you won't spill anything on your…fur."

She hurriedly fixed the dog's bib and turned to go back to her 'cooking' when she paused. Her eyes widened and Casey felt as if she were staring right at him.

"Hello? Are you here? Mommy? Daddy, did you come?" Charlotte tip-toed all around her room, but found no one. She peeked down the empty hall, then curled up on her bed and squeezed her bear Cocoa.

Casey leaned forward a little startled. "What's the matter, baby girl?" He whispered.

Charlotte ran to her window and looked outside. "Hello? Is anyone there? Daddy? Mommy?"

"I'm here." Casey said aloud, but Charlotte didn't respond.

Whatever sensation she had disappeared and she went back to her cooking, however, she kept looking over her shoulder, making sure no one watched her. Casey grew agitated.

"Those bastards better not be spying on my family! Maybe they were, and that's why they were killed too." He reasoned aloud. It was pride to think that the Buy More explosion occurred because of him. But it wouldn't be the first time someone wanted their revenge.

He moved the Tracker around the grounds of the house and into the surrounding woods. They were empty. He tracked throughout the house again slowly, beyond the walls and into the foundation. He checked each crevice for bugs and hidden cameras but everything came up clean. Julia called Charlotte down for lunch. She noticed her daughter's worried expression as she set up her plate with salad and a sandwich.

"Is something wrong, sweetheart?"

"Mommy, I feel like someone's watching me."

Julia finished serving Charlotte and she stiffened, knowing better than to disregard her daughter's comment. With the business John was in and the traumas she went through in her life from it, she wanted to take every precaution.

"Well…umm, would you like me to check out the house for you. I'll go look around."

Charlotte smiled at her and bounced in her chair. "It's okay, I'm not scared, mommy. I thought daddy was here playing hide and seek. But we're gonna go see him, right? It's a surprise! I can't wait!"

Julia stood by the telephone, deciding whether or not to make a phone call. "Neither can I, honey. He's on vacation starting Saturday, I hope he doesn't mind us probably made plans."

Casey tossed his hands up. "Why would I mind, Julia? You're my family!"

Julia reached for the receiver, then lowered it. "I shouldn't bother him, he might get worried and that's the last thing he needs. We'll be seeing him real soon."

Casey ran up to the giant monitor. He touched the screen and his fingers caressed her face.

"Don't you get it? I want to worry about you! I love you! I love you both!" He sobbed.

Casey thrust his body against the screen with his arms strewn out. He vainly tried to grasp her image and rested his cheek against hers. The heat and static generated from the monitor suctioned him and he had a wild notion that if he pushed hard enough, he could dive his way into the past. All the images he viewed on the screen today were so real and true to life, he felt he could touch them and they'd somehow react. After a long minute, he pulled away, his body and face flushed with electronic warmth.

He sank to his knees and stared at them anguished. "I'm sorry. I should have been there for you."

Julia closed her eyes softly and opened them slowly, passionately, keeping her focus on the table. Her breath hitched.

"Mommy, what's wrong? Are you sick?

Julia's lips parted and her forehead wrinkled confused. She raised her large blue eyes and glanced directly at Casey, touching her cheek. The gaze lasted only a few seconds, but it was enough to shake him to the core. They had made contact.

Julia shook it off and smiled warmly at her daughter. "No, I'm alright. I'm not sick, it's just…well…We really do love him, don't we?"

"I love, love, love daddy!"

Casey gasped, and covered his mouth. He backed into the console, and quickly pulled the Tracker out of orbit. He moved away from the equipment and folded his arms, looking around sharply the flashing bulbs and electronic impulses collecting and sorting data. His mind swirled with ideas that only happened in the Twilight Zone.

"There's something very weird about this damn thing and I'm gonna find out what it is." He vowed.

Casey yawned. He couldn't ignore his exhaustion anymore. He stumbled down the corridors to his room. He collapsed on the cot, falling into a dreamless sleep.